First off, a standing ovation to anyone who stayed up till the very end of this nightmare of a game. Double standing ovation if you’re still awake when I’ve published this recap. The Ottawa Senators needed this win badly, they needed to salvage something out of this road trip from a Halloween movie but of course they didn’t and in the worst fashion possible.

Mike Condon got the start tonight and it just seemed that the game was doomed at that announcement. I really want Condon to do well because he seems like a genuinely nice guy but at this point, he is just too bad to be taking a roster spot and yet absolutely hopeless in the trade department but hey we still haven’t signed Stone and Duchene to long term deals.

The first period set the tone for the game, it wasn’t good. The Sens were outshot 14-6 but most importantly they were outscored 3-0. Galchenyuk started the scoring parade for Arizona with his first for the Coyotes. Shortly after, Brad Richardson added to the lead and it was already not looking pretty but 2-0 early on in the game is nothing to worry about with these motivated and feisty Sens, right? Wrong, very wrong! At the 15:30 mark of the first period, the tone of the night was officially set when Derek Stepan cleared the puck on a penalty kill from behind the blue line and somehow got between Condon’s pad to extend their lead to 3-0. Condon was saved from his misery but unfortunately, the fans had to endure so much more. In case, you haven’t seen enough of that joke goal, because I’m evil right now I’m going to ask you to watch it just one more time.

The second period saw Andy continue to be in net after relieving Condon and brought with it some hope of a comeback. That hope was quickly taken away when a goal by Chris Tierney was deemed illegal because the NHL has the consistency of slime when it comes to deciding on what’s a good challenge and what isn’t. Moving on, the Sens kept fighting and overall it was actually a really well played period by the Sens. The only positive thing of the game happened when Alex Formenton finally scored his first NHL goal. This one was also challenged and deemed legal even though one could make a strong case for clear goalie interference but hey maybe things will start going our way, wrong again. Less than a minute later, Coyotes answer back to make it 4-1. In all fairness to the Sens, they didn’t stop pushing for the remainder of the period and it’s a shame they only got rewarded with one goal. The Sens finished the period outshooting the Yotes 12-8.

The third period came along in a game that didn’t seem to end. At this point, it didn’t seem the Sens had much fight left in them. At certain times, they just look uninterested in the whole thing. Most fans had gone to bed frustrated but I refused to give up on the team because something magical will happen and they will tie this game and win it in OT. The game ended miserably at 5-1 and so did my will to watch another hockey game.

Notable Performances

a) Alex Formenton: well he scored his first NHL goal and was really showcasing how lethal his speed will be when he gets going with his finishes. He would’ve had his second goal of the game had the refs made the proper call and gave him the penalty shot.

b) The fans who stayed up till at the very last second, you are true heroes in a world filled with quitters.

c) Craig Anderson: he finished the game with a .917 SV% and made 22 saves on 24 shots but more significant is the fact that Anderson just had to bail the team every game at this point and can’t even take a day off. Ridiculous the work that this man does.

Game Flow

Heatmap

Up Next

The Sens come back home and try to get something going after a 4 game losing streak and a string of uninspiring performances. They face the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday at 7:30PM. Maybe November will bring better luck.